First aid

A few sources of inspiration to get you on the road to seasonal self-sufficiency

Sat Nov 27 2010 - 00:00

A few sources of inspiration to get you on the road to seasonal self-sufficiency

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

Literally don’t know how to thread a needle? There are many amazing basic sewing and craft books. If you feel intimidated by the very idea of making something, Eithne Farry’s two delightful books Yeah, I Made It Myself and Lovely Things to Make For Girls Of Slender Means (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, £12.99) will convince you that anyone can make something cool – just try one of her basic bags.

One of the most appealing new titles is Jenny Lord’s Purls of Wisdom: The Book of Knitting (Penguin, £16.99). Not only does it contain very easy to follow instructions for complete novices, it also includes patterns for several very simple but lovely gifts, including a laptop case, baby booties, and a cafetiere cosy.

If you want to invest in a brilliantly illustrated tome that will teach you everything about sewing, Alison Smith’s The Sewing Book (Dorling Kindersley, £25) is the needlecraft bible.

WEBSITES

Ehow.com has instructional videos on just about everything – just search for the skill you require. The queen of posh crafting has to be Martha Stewart, and just looking at the craft projects on her website marthastewart.com can make you want to get out a glue gun and start making elaborate decorations. See also notmadeofmoney.com.

BOOKS AND INSPIRATION

Nothing fuels the imagination like gorgeous craft books, websites and blogs. American artist Alicia Paulson shares her crafty creations at aliciapaulson.com, where she posts photos and writes about her latest projects on her blog, as well as selling craft kits. Her latest book, Embroidery Companion is published by Potter Craft, $22.99, and is available at Amazon.com. If needlework isn’t your thing, try Minhee and Truman Cho’s Paper + Craft (Chronicle Books, £12.99) – it’s full of amazing projects from picture frames to mobiles and all you need is paper, scissors and glue. Jane Brocket is the author of several beautiful books about crafting, including The Gentle Art of Domesticity. Her blog Yarnstorm (yarnstorm.blogs.com) will have you yearning to make and bake things.

DON’T WANT TO DIY?

If you love the idea of giving someone a hand- made present but the thought of picking up a needle makes you break out in hives, never fear: you can buy someone else’s work. The Craft Council of Ireland has launched a new website, giveirishcraft.com, to encourage shoppers to think of purchasing Irish craft pieces, with items from €10. There’s also Dublin’s Crafty Market, which takes place every Sunday in Shebeen Chic on South Great George’s Street. On Etsy.com, you can browse through thousands of pieces from Ireland and abroad.

STOCKISTS BEADS

Crown Jewels, Castle Market, Dublin 2, tel: 01-6713452

Yellow Brick Road, 8, Bachelor’s Walk, Dublin 1, yellowbrickroad.ie, tel: 01-8730177

PAPER

From art and hobby shops all over the country, with some special effects from:

Daintree, 61 Camden Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-4757500

Pen Corner, 12 College Green, Dublin 2, tel: 01-6793641

O’Sullivan Graphics, 14/15 Camden Street, Dublin 2, tel: 01-4789460

FABRIC AND NEEDLECRAFTS

Hickeys Fabrics has shops all over the country. To find your nearest one, see hickeyfabrics.ie

Murphy Sheehy, 14 Castle Market, Dublin 2 and 3 Corrig Avenue, Dún Laoghaire (murphysheehy.com), tel: 01-6770316

Pippablue, 1 Middle Street, Galway; pippablue.com, tel: 091-566972